Hay-loader



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1'. F. EARNHEART.

- HAY LOADER.

No. 451,467. Patented May 5,1891.

IMEZIWMZ (No Model.) I V s Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. EARNHEART. HAY YLOADER.

No. 451,467. Patented MayB, 1891.

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{No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

F. EARNHEART.

HAY LOADER.

No. 451,467. Patented May 5,1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK EARNIIEART, OF FAIRBURY, ILLINOIS.

HAY LOADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,467, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed December 9, 1890. Serial No. 374,065, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK EARNHEART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairbury, in the county of Livingston and State of' Illinois, have invented a new and useful Hay-Loader, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hay-loaders of that class which are usually attached to wagons for the purpose of gathering the hay in the passage over the field, elevating the same, and dumping it onto the wagon, thereby dispensing to a great extent with manual labor in the gathering and loading of hay.

My present invention has for its object to construct a machine of this class which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency; and with these ends in View the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan looking in the direction of the arrowin Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken vertically through the axle of the machine and looking in a rearward direction. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a detail View showing the construction and arrangement of one of the teeth.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The main frame of my improved hay-loader is composed of side pieces 1 1 connected at suitable intervals by cross-pieces 2 2, upon the upper sides of which longitudinal slats 3 3 are suitably secured. The under sides of the side pieces 1 1 are provided with bearings 1 for the axle 5 upon the spindles, at the ends of which the transporting-wheels 6 are journaled.

Upon the axle, adjacent to the inner sides of the hub of the transportirig-wheels, are secured the sprocket-wheels 7, having springactuated clutch-dogs 8, engaging the ratchets 9 upon the hubs of v the transporting-wheels. By this construction, when the machine is backed the transporti'ngwheels 6 will revolve loosely upon the axle, while when the machine is traveling in a forward direction, the ciutch mechanism will connect the transporting-wheels with the sprocket-wheels 7, which latter are thus caused to rotate with the axle.

The sides of the frame are provided with suitably constructed brackets 10, provided on their front sides with boxes or. bearings 11 for the shafts 12, the outer ends of which carry the sprocketwheels 13, connected by chains 14. with the sprocket-wheels 7. The inner ends of the shafts 12 are provided with cranks 15. The upper sides of the brackets 10 are provided with bearings for a pair of rock-shafts 16 and 17, the ends of which are provided with toothed segments 18, meshing with each other, so that when one of said rock-shafts is oscillated in its bearings motion shall be communicated through the toothed segments to the other shaft, which is thus likewise oscillated, but in an opposite direction. Both of the rock-shafts 16 and 17 are provided with depending arms 19, arranged intermediately between each other, and the outer arms 19 of the rock-shaft 17 are connected by means of pitmen 20 with the cranks 15 of the shafts 12. It will thus be seen that when the latter revolve an oscillating or vibrating motion will be transmitted to the rock-shaft 17, which is in turn transmitted from the latter through the toothed segments 18 to the rock-shaft 16.

The upper sides of the side pieces of the frame are provided near their front ends with brackets 21, having slots 22, affording bearings for a shaft 23, which is thus permitted to slide in the said slots, which are preferably at right angles to the side pieces of the frame. The shaft 23 is provided with a series of disks or annular flanges 24:, arranged in pairs, as shown, said pairs being arranged at equal distances apart. These disks or flanges form guides or bearings for the loops or straps 25, which are secured upon the upper sides of the bar. 26, the rear ends of which are provided on their upper sides with loops or staples 27, which engage the slots 28, formed at the lower ends of the depending arms 19 of the rock-shafts 16 and 17. It will thus be observed that the bars 26 may have a longitudi- ICO nally-sliding motion with relation to the shaft 23, which in turn may yield in the slots 22, while the lower ends of said bars are loosely jointed to the arms 1.), so that while by their own weightthey will normally drop in the direction of the supportingframe, yet they may, when occasion requires, move in. an up ward or outward direction from said frame. The upper ends of the bars 26 will be guided by the straps 25, working between the disks or flanges 24, and the latter will serve in the nature of friction-rollers to facilitate the movement of the said bars.

The under sides of the bars 26 are provided with boxes 29, which are triangularin shape and which are open at their upper or front ends. The sides of said boxes have bearings for the pins 30, upon which are pivotally mounted the teeth 31, which extend through the open front ends of the box and rest against the lower edges of the latter. The teeth 31 normally occupy a somewhat inclined position, and they will on the upward move ment of the bars 26 serve to push the hay which passes between said bars and stays 3 of the frame in an upward (lll'CCLlOll, while on the downward movement of the bars they will move or swing in an upward direction and rest tlatly against the under sides of the said bars. The boxes 20, owing to their peculiar triangular shape, will not interfere with the reciprocating movement of the bars, but will rather assist in pushing the hay in an upward direction and in bracing or supporting the teeth ill.

Suitably secured to the sides of the frame and to the brackets 10, rising fromthe latter, are the arms 32, the lower ends of which afford bearings foran oscillating rake-hea 1 53 3, equipped with teeth 34:, of ordinary construction. The ends of the rake-head are provided with levers 35, by means of which itmay be manipulated in case of necessity.

The sides of the frame are provided with guard-slats 36, suitably secured to the side pieces 1 of said frame, and at the upper end of the latter is arranged a longitudinally-s1iding frame 37, having longitudinal slats 23 which intersect the slats 3 of the main frame. To the upper edge of the sliding frame 37 is hinged an apron 39, the lower corners of which are pivotally con nected with link-rods t0, the opposite ends of which are pivoted to the side pieces 1 of the frame. It will thus be observed that the hinged apron 39 by sliding the frame 37 in an upward or downward direction may be adjusted at various angles with relation to the said frame and to the main frame. Thus when the sliding frame 37 is at its lowest point the apron 30 will occupy the position most nearly approximating the horizontal, and will thus conduct the hay or material which is being loaded in a forward direction upon the wagon which is being loaded and to which the machine is attached for operation, while by raising the frame 37 the eondu'cting-apron 39 will more nearly approximate the vertical position, and will thus have a tendencyto conduct the material which is being loaded toward the rear end of the wagon which is being loaded, thus facilitating the arrangement of the load upon the wagon.

The operation and advantages of my in vention will be readily.understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed. The machine is attached in any suitable well-known manner to the wagon which is to be loaded. \Vhen thelatter passes over the field, therake will gather the hay and throw it up under the reciprocating bars 26, to which a reciprocating movement in opposite directions is imparted by the rock-shafts 16 and 17, respectively, the latter of said rock-shafts being operated by means of the crank-shafts 12, which are driven by the chains 1t direct from the sprocket-wheels 7 upon the axle of the machine without intermediate gearing. lloth ends of said bars have a yielding connection with the frame. so that the said bars will accommodate themselves to the quantity of hay which may be gathered. Should the quantity of hay be too great to pass under the bars, any surplus portion maybe discharged under the rake by manipulating the rake-head by means of the lovers 35. The hay being elevated by the action of the reciprocating toothed bars is discharged over the apron 3.) and into the wagon to which the machine has been attached.

It will be observed that by this invention complicated gearing is dispensed with, motion being imparted to the operative parts direct from the axle of the machine by means of the sprocket-chains it. The rock-shafts 16 and 1.7, havingdepending arms 19, by which the reciprocating bars are operated, are geared direct together, and may thus be operated by the single pair of connecting-rods 20. The weight of the machine is carried wholly by the transporting-whecls, which run upon the ground, and the friction caused by dragging is thus avoided.

The general construction of my im n'oved hay-loader is simple and inexpensive, and it is not liable to get out of order.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a hay-loader, the combination of the frame the side pieces of which are provided with upwardiy-extending brackets, the rockshatts mounted upon said brackets and provided attheir ends with toothed segments meshing together, the axle having the transporting-wheels, means for transmitting motion from the axle to one of the said rockshafts, and the elevator-platform and elevating mechanism consisting of the reciprocating toothed bars suitably connected with said rock-shafts, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the frame, the axle journaled IIO in bearings upon the under side of said frame, the transporting-wheels journaled upon the axle, the sprocket-wheels secured upon the axle adjacent to the transporting-wheels, clutch mechanism adapted to connect the sprocket-wheels with the transporting-wheels, the brackets mounted upon the side pieces of the frame, the rock-shafts mounted upon said brackets and having toothed segments meshing with each other, crank-shafts journaled upon the front sides of the brackets, pitmen connecting the cranks with arms depending from one of the rock-shafts, sprocket-wheels mounted upon the outer ends of the crankshafts, chains connecting the said sprocketwheels with those upon the axle of the machine, and the elevator-platform and elevating mechanism consisting of the reciprocating toothed bars suitably connected with the rock-shafts, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the frame, the reciprocating elevator-bars, the rock-shafts having toothed segments meshing together and provided with depending arms connected loosely with the said reciprocating elevator-bars, means for transmitting an oscillating motion from the axle of the machine to one of the rock-shafts, and a hinged rake-head having curved springteeth, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4:. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the rock-shafts having toothed segments meshing together and provided with depending arms having slots at their lower ends, and the reciprocating toothed bars having staples loosely engaging the slots in the said arms, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the frame, the brackets mounted at the upper end of the same and having V slots, the shaft yieldingly journaled in said slots and provided with disks or flanges, the reciprocating toothed elevator-bars having straps engaging the said yielding shaft between the disks or flanges, the rock-shafts having toothed segments engaging each other and provided with depending arms having slots at their lower ends, and the staples upon the reciprocating bars loosely engaging said slots, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with the reciprocating toothed bars provided with straps on their upper sides, of thesupporting-shaft mounted looselyin slotted brackets and provided with guide-disks or flanges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the reciprocating toothed bars, means for yieldingly supporting the upper ends of said bars, the rock shafts having toothed segments engaging each other and provided with arms having slots, staples at the lower ends of the reciprocating bars loosely engaging the said slots, suitablyarranged shafts having cranks connected by pitmen with arms depending from one of the rockshafts, sprocket-wheels mounted upon the crank-shafts, and chains connecting the said sprocket-wheels with sprocket-wheels upon the axle of the machine, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with the frame and the reciprocating toothed bars, of an apron hinged to an auxiliary sliding frame near the upper end of said frame, and means for adjusting the said apron to various positions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination, with the frame and the reciprocating toothed bars, of a supplementary frame mounted slidingly at the upper end of the main frame, the apron hinged to the said sliding frame, and pivoted rods connecting the lower corners of said hinged apron with the sides of the main frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the main frame, the reciproeating bars having triangular boxes provided with pivoted teeth, means for yieldinglysupporting the upper ends of said bars, the rockshafts having toothed segments engaging each other and provided with arms connected loosely with the lower ends of the reciprocating bars, means for transmitting an oscillating motion to one of said rock-shafts from the axle of the machine, a rake the head of which is provided with suitable levers, a frame mounted slidingly at the upper end of the main frame, an apron hinged to the said sliding frame, and pivoted rods connecting the said apron with the sides of the main frame, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK EARNl-IEART.

Witnesses:

S. S. ROGERS, 'l. D. KARNES. 

